DISCLAIMER: This recap of the Rick and Morty episode “Forgetting Sarick Mortshall” is riddled with spoilers. You’ve been warned. Proceed at your own peril.
Welcome back, Garbage Goobers! Rick and Morty‘s penultimate episode hones in on our eponymous pair’s “conscious uncoupling.” Not only that, but Rick undergoes a personal growth spurt of sorts. We see him address how toxic his relationship is with Morty. It’s a far cry from the Rick we know, but a welcome change, indeed. It’s all thanks to the empathy of crows.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall strangely feels like an apt film to name this episode after.
Ready to delve into “Forgetting Sarick Mortshall”? Let’s get to it.
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We open with Morty (voiced by Justin Roiland) fixing a laundry list of Rick’s mistakes on various alien worlds. Morty returns home to discover that the portal gun is out of fluid. So, he mixes what little is left with lime soda. Of course, this combination is highly toxic.
Suddenly, Morty spills some mixed portal fluid on his hand, creating a small portal. We see a boatload of garbage spew forth from the said portal. A man peers out of Morty’s hand hole.
Rick (voiced by Roiland) barges into the garage to find the trash mess. Thankfully, he has a Garbage Goober on retainer for this sort of thing.
Now, Rick is irate because Morty carelessly mixed the portal fluid with soda. Morty attempts to conceal his hand hole.
Next, Rick procures a spinning wheel that’ll determine his next sidekick. Morty’s tenure as grandpa’s right-hand man is coming to a close. The needle lands on two crows. The joke here is any “subpar” creature can replace Morty. My favorite pick on the wheel is “Jerry (Spin Again).”
Meanwhile, Rick trains his new crow companions while Morty watches on, enraged. Morty has been chatting with his hand hole buddy, Nick, who has a connection with Rick. Additionally, Nick has a portal in his thigh.
So, Morty seeks out his friend. Nick resides in a psychiatric hospital. Morty proceeds to assist Nick with escaping. We see them tag-team to take out the guards by utilizing their portal holes. Thus, the Portal Boys are born.
Later, Rick embarks on exciting adventures with his dynamic crow duo. They teach him a skill of which he’s bereft — empathy. However, the crows don’t obey his orders, so he disposes them on an avian planet.
This doesn’t pan out, though.
The avian planet ruler urges Rick to see things from a different perspective. No training is required! Just understanding. Rick’s third eye is opened.
Then, Morty, Nick and Jerry (voiced by Chris Parnell) trash Rick’s science room, a.k.a. the garage. Jerry inadvertently turns himself into a puddle because he’s Jerry. Morty and Nick flee in Jerry’s vehicle.
Next, Rick’s avian pals drop him off at the house with his crow besties in tow. They spot Rick’s wheel of new companions, noting that he poked fun at the intelligence of crows. Before leaving, they seize his crows.
So, the “crow-volution” begins!
Meanwhile, Morty and Nick are on an alien planet. They give over a notorious criminal to the planet’s ruler in exchange for portal fluid. However, they don’t have any. Nick escalates the situation in an unfavorable direction.
Now, the crows have the chance to ascend to a higher plane of intelligence by touching the “sacred egg.” Rick sneaks onto the avian overlords’ spaceship to save his crow buddies. Unfortunately, he’s captured in the process. Morty calls Rick and reveals that his relationship with Nick isn’t working out. Nick’s too reckless.
In turn, Rick discloses his current situation. Suddenly, the crows touch the egg and transform into their elevated selves.
Nick catches up with Morty, and the pair square off. Nick is crazed. After a scuffle, Morty amputates his own hand via a speeding train — the one with the portal. This ensures Nick won’t attempt to manipulate him. Then, he shoves his portal hand down Nick’s thigh portal, causing a suction reaction. Nick is yanked into his own thigh by the portal within a portal.
Portal.
Then, Morty swipes Nick’s jet pack and flies away after cauterizing his wound.
Back at the avian spaceship, Rick faces down his former crow companions. But instead of killing him as instructed, they turn on the avian overlords and slaughter them along with the sacred egg. Even amid all the chaos, the crows still held fast to their empathy for Rick.
Later, Rick finds Morty forlornly shuffling home. Rick hastily regenerates Morty’s amputated hand. Morty hopes they can mend fences and resume their adventures together.
However, Rick notes that their relationship is a cycle of perpetual toxicity. They’re poison for each other. So, he’s going to travel with the crows and see what they can teach him. He gives Morty his portal gun.
We see Rick pack up his stuff in the garage. He gives Morty a wave as the latter looks on, tears streaming down his face.
Then, Rick embraces his crow duo. It’s the Rick and Two Crows Show, y’all! Now you can watch a thousand seasons on your sneakers!
For the end-credit scene, we see Garbage Goober at home with his wife. She’s none too pleased regarding his profession. He’s a doctor, for crying out loud! Consuming trash is beneath him. He vows to quit, but then Summer (voiced by Spencer Grammer) calls for him. There’s more yummy trash to be eaten! Thus, the cycle of perpetual toxicity continues.
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Overall, “Forgetting Sarick Mortshall” takes a simpler, less highfalutin approach. Sometimes, Rick and Morty has a penchant for pretentiousness and this desire to shove itself up its own ass. But, on occasion, it’s best to keep things simple for greater effect.
This is a big step for Rick in terms of evolvement, so hopefully, the show continues on that track.
Rick and Morty airs Sundays at 11 pm on your Adult Swim affiliate.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
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